A Guide for the

Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe)

5777

Beth El Synagogue 1004 Watts Street Durham, NC 27701

919-682-1238

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We are on a journey between two fasts. 9 Tisha B’Av and Yom

Kippur. Each is 25 hours long and require abstention from eating

and drinking and anointing and sex and wearing leather shoes, but

they are not the same.

9 Tisha B’Av is (almost) all darkness. When we mourn the

destruction of the Temples on the ninth of Tisha B’Av , we mourn

not merely the burning of buildings. We cry because we remember

that our relationship with God, our connection to what is good

and right in the world was dealt a blow. That day is sadness and

pain, loss and loneliness.

But from that day of darkness in the searing heat of summer, we chart seven weeks to Rosh

Hashanah, seven haftarot of consolation that mark seven weeks of healing, of

encouragement that even when we feel so lost, God is never far away. From Rosh Hashanah

to Yom Kippur, we spend 10 more days working on ourselves, making ourselves better and, in

doing so, bring us closer and closer to God and light. Yom Kippur is a serious day but it is not

sad. It is a day of light and, in the Hasidic tradition, we dress in white because it is a wedding

day, a day of intimacy, of closeness, of forgiveness.

A journey between two fasts, from darkness to light, from loneliness to being together, from

broken to whole, from what is done to what can be.

A Journey Between Two Fasts

Rabbi Daniel Greyber, Elul 5776

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5777 Yamim Noraim & Sukkot Schedule

SELICHOT SERVICES Motzei Shabbat, September 24 Selichot Service 8:15 pm —at the JCC EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 Services 6:30 pm ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 Monday, October 3 Services 8:30 am Tashlich- Chapel Hill, 4:30 pm Tashlich- Durham, 5:30 pm Erev 2nd Day Service 7:00 pm ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 Tuesday, October 4 Services 8:30 am SHABBAT SHUVAH Erev Shabbat, October 8 Shabbat Morning 9:30 am KEVER AVOT Sunday, October 9, 10:30 am Durham Hebrew Cemetery http://durhamhebrewcemetery.org/ KOL NIDRE Tuesday, October 11 Services 6:00 pm Food Drive Bag Handout

YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 Morning Services 8:30 am Yizkor 11:00 am Study Sessions 4:00- 5:00 pm Minchah 5:00 pm Neilah Services 6:15 pm Havdallah 7:24 pm Break-Fast following services SUKKOT DAY 1 Monday, October 17 Service 9:00 am Shaking the Lulav and Etrog SUKKOT DAY 2 Tuesday, October 18 Services 9:00 am Shaking the Lulav and Etrog SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT Erev Shabbat, Jerrod Meltzer’s Bar Mitzvah, October 21 Shabbat Services 6:00 pm Shabbat Morning, Jerrod Meltzer’s Bar Mitzvah, October 22 Shabbat Morning Services 9:30 am SHMINI ATZERET Monday, October 24 Services 9:00 am Yizkor 10:30 am EREV SIMCHAT TORAH Monday, October 24 Services 7:00 pm SIMCHAT TORAH DAY Tuesday, October 25 Services 9:00 am

The High Holidays are a time when nobody should be alone. We are very proud that Beth El does not collect or check tickets for services. Donations are needed and helpful, but please know -- all are welcome. All can come and be part of our spiritual community.

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Community Card 5777

Beth El's Community New Year's Card is now in the synagogue lobby, waiting for you to send New Year's greetings to your Beth El friends. You can send those good wishes without having to sign and mail individual cards AND you'll be doing a double mitzvah: funds raised through the Community Card will be given to the Eric Pas Camp Scholarship Fund to help send more

kids to Jewish camps next summer. It's easy to participate in this project: simply send a donation to the synagogue, earmarked for

the Community Card. Your name will be included for everyone to see. The greeting card project is sponsored by the Synagogue Life Committee. Our goal --fill the card with names and

help send more kids to camp.

If you would like to make a donation to the community card, go online to sign up: www.betheldurham/high-holiday

For more information, contact Libby Vaughn (libbyv@gmail.com)

Selichot

Saturday, September 24 at 8:15 pm at The JCC

Join us for community Havdalah at 8:15 pm followed by a short movie and meaningful discussion with Rabbi Greyber, Rabbi Feldman of Kehillah, Rabbi Bach of Judea Reform, and Rabbi Bluming of Chabad.

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Rosh Hashanah October 2, 3 & 4,2016

EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 Services 6:30 pm

ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 Monday, October 3 Services 8:30 am Tashlikh- Chapel Hill, 4:30 pm Tashlikh- Durham, 5:30 pm

ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 Tuesday, October 4 Services 8:30 am

TASHLICH SERVICE

Monday, October 3

Chapel Hill– 4:30 pm at Eastwood Lake

Durham– 5:30 pm at Ellerbee Creek Trail meets Markham Ave

One of the most beautiful and powerful rituals of the Yamim Noraim season is Tashlich. “Tashlich” literally translates as “you shall cast,” and is a word used by the prophet Micah when he calls upon the Jewish community to cast their sins upon the water. Metaphorically, Micah was imploring the people to cleanse themselves of their mistakes and to repent.

A more visual way to cast off our misdeeds, this Rosh Hashanah afternoon ritual is great for the whole family. Bring comfy shoes, some old bread, and your singing voice.

KEVER AVOT

Traditional Cemetery Service at Durham Hebrew Cemetery

Sunday, October 9 at 10:30 am

Death is the end of a life, but not the end of a relationship. Even after a person’s soul has left this world, many of us find ourselves still yearning to share our lives with that loved one. Our tradition beautifully recognizes this need through the ritual of kever avot.

During the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is an especially meaningful time to visit the cemetery, share our prayers for the upcoming year, and reflect on the lives of our deceased relatives and friends, regardless of where they are buried. Please join us on Sunday, October 9 at 10:30 am at the Durham Hebrew Cemetery as we partake in a ritual of remembrance. Directions to the cemetery can be found at http://durhamhebrewcemetery.org/

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Annual Kol Nidre Food Drive

Bags will be distributed during Rosh Hashanah.

Please fill a bag(s) with non-perishable food and bring it to Beth El Synagogue any time between Kol Nidre services, October 11, and Sukkot, October 17-18.

All food will be donated to Iglesia Emanuel Church.

Yom Kippur October 11 & 12, 2016

KOL NIDRE Tuesday, October 11 Services 6:00 pm Food Drive

YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 Morning Services 8:30 am Yizkor 11:00 am

Study Sessions 4:00 pm Minchah 5:00 pm Neilah Services 6:15 pm Havdallah 7:24 pm

Fragrance Free—In consideration of our

congregants and guests with allergies and

other sensitivities, we ask that those attending

services during the Yamim Noraim and Sukkot

refrain from wearing strong fragrances.

Yom Kippur Pre-Fast Dinner

Tuesday, October 11

4:45– 5:45pm

We would love for you to join us for

our Pre-Fast Dinner. Registration is

available at www.betheldurham.org

or by calling the office (919-682-1238).

Cost Adult Children (12 –7)

Member $36 $10

Non-Member $36 $10

Registration will close on Monday, October 6th.

Food bags for Iglesia Emanuel Church.

Following are the items most requested by Iglesia Emanuel Church. Other non-perishable items also are accepted:

Pasta

Rice

Beans

Canned vegetables

Cereal

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High Holiday Parking Information

Please reserve the Beth El lot for our congregants with special needs.

Street parking is available, but only NORTH of Markham Avenue. You are facing North if Beth El is on your right. Our neighbors at Watts Street Baptist (Watts Street lot) and Grace Lutheran (enter from Buchanan Blvd in the block north of the church building) have graciously offered their parking lots for our use on both Rosh Hashannah & Yom Kippur. Please do not use the Watts Street Baptist lot for parking on Wednesday.

Watts Street Baptist Church - Watts Street Lot only - Available on all holidays EXCEPT Wednesday, Yom Kippur (10/12)

Grace Lutheran Church - North side of the lot only (Buchanan entrance)- Available on all holidays.

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Shaking the LULAV and ETROG—Monday & Tuesday, October 17 & 18 during the 9:00 am Sukkot services

On Sukkot, all of us have the opportunity to both live inside a mitzvah---the sukkah---and to hold a mitzvah---the lulav and etrog. As opposed to the holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur when most of our spiritual actions take place inside our hearts and souls, Sukkot is about the external. It is about going outside and connecting to the natural world.

Again this year, lulav and etrog sets may be purchased through Beth El. At Sukkot morning services, we will have the opportunity to raise the lulav and etrog and shake them in the six directions of the world, a powerful and spiritually-fulfilling practice. Even if you are not able to attend Sukkot services this year, you are still encouraged to purchase a set so that you can wave them at your home and share them with your friends and family.

If you would like to order a set, please go to our website (www.betheldurham.org/high-holidays) and fill out the form. All orders must be in by September 23.

Sets are $45 each.

We’ll let you know when they are in and can be picked up!

Sukkot October 17 & 18, 2016

Throughout Sukkot, all families are encouraged to bring food (dairy/parve) and eat meals in the Beth El sukkah.

In the Sukkah

Pizza in the Hut Sunday, October 16, 12:30 pm The Men of Beth El (MoB) are making kosher pizza for you to enjoy in the sukkah (the “hut”.) Come schmooze, enjoy delicious pizza, and fulfill the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah! Food Drive Sunday, October 16, 12:30 pm Beth El Social Action will collect food for Iglesia Emanuel Church. Please see page 6 for more information.

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Simchat Torah October 24 & 25, 2016

Ushering Ushers help serve as guides for congregants and guests while entering, being seated, and departing services. Men and women are needed to participate. Usher volunteers assist Beth El by serving for the Yamim Noraim dates listed below. To volunteer, please complete and return the usher volunteer form on page 10.

EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 Monday, October 3

ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 Tuesday, October 4 KOL NIDRE Tuesday, October 11

YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 *Ushers serving the last shift of the service are asked to stay to the service conclusion.

A Celebration!

Join Rabbi Greyber for a special Simchat Torah service filled with lots of singing and dancing!

Monday, October 24th at 7:00 pm

Come hear the completion- and start- of the Torah and dance with the Torah around the shul. Followed by a celebratory oneg.

Tuesday, October 25th at 9:00 am

Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." This holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. Each week in synagogue, we publicly read a few chapters from the Torah, starting with Genesis Ch. 1 and working our way around to Deuteronomy 34. On Simchat Torah, we read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding us that the Torah is a circle, and never ends.

This completion of the readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torah scrolls, and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing in the synagogue with the Torahs. Drinking is also common during this time; in fact, a traditional source recommends performing the priestly blessing earlier than usual in the service, to make sure the kohanim are not drunk when the time comes! As many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading); in fact, even children are called for an aliyah blessing on Simchat Torah. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions. Children do not carry the scrolls (they are much too heavy!), but often follow the procession around the synagogue, sometimes carrying small toy Torahs (stuffed plush toys or paper scrolls).

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Your Ushering Availability ROSH HASHANAH YOM KIPPUR _____ Erev Rosh Hashanah, Sun., October 2 ______ Kol Nidre, Tues., October 11 _____ Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Mon., October 3 ______ Yom Kippur am service, Wed., October 12 _____ Rosh Hashanah Day 2, Tues., October 4 ______ Yom Kippur pm service, Wed., October 12

For more information, please contact

Casey (casey@betheldurham.org) or 919-682-1238.

Usher shifts usually last approximately one hour.

Please consider this simple mitzvah—your time will be greatly appreciated.

Please fill out this form and return it to us as soon as possible.

Beth El Synagogue Office

1004 Watts Street

Durham, NC 27701

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _ Phone: _______________________________________ Email: __________________________________________ (required)

USHER VOLUNTEER FORM

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Youth Programs for the Yamim Noraim 2016/5777

10:30-12:00pm

Tot Tefillah (under age 4): Freedman Center Lounge (upstairs) 10:30-11:15 am Jr. Jr. Congregation (Pre K-2nd grade): Upper level of the Freedman Center 10:30-11:15 am Jr. Congregation (3rd-6th grade): Freedman Center Classroom #1 (downstairs) 10:30-12:00 pm Babysitting (ages 2-7) following children’s services both days following Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur: Children must be dropped off and picked up by the parent. All children should bring a dairy lunch. The High Holiday babysitting program is for children 2 through 7. Please note that only children who are PRE-REGISTERED will be admitted– NO EXCEPTIONS! All participants must contribute time or a donation for babysitting. Space is limited! Teen Lounge ( 7-12th grade) USY and Kadima teens are invited to join Rebecca in the new teen lounge, located downstairs from the main sanctuary– first room on the left. Join us any time during the day to take a break from the main service, play some games, have a snack (RH only), and do some learning. Discussions and teachings will be lead by Rebecca, Rabbi Greyber, and possibly other guests. For a full list of scheduled discussions and topics please contact Rebecca@betheldurham.org or check out a posted list on the door of the teen lounge!

Donation minimum is $18 per child, per babysitting session, with a family cap of $36 per day. *There is NO charge for attending SERVICES ONLY!

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The Beth El Synagogue

Board of Trustees, Committee Chairs

and Staff wish our entire congregation

a happy, healthy New Year!